Oregon
Washington
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 Bulletin - EPA 910/9-92-043
February 1998
Clean Water Act Weighs In On Columbia Salmon Recovery
EPA Region 10, Oregon,
and Washington have
officially invoked the Clean
Water Act in efforts to
restore Northwest salmon
populations in the
Columbia River.
It all started in December,
when EPA, the Oregon De-
partment of Environmental
Quality, and the Washington
Department of Ecology sent
the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers a letter. The letter
asserted the responsibilities
of EPA, the states, and tribes
under the Clean Water Act in
the management of the
Federal Columbia River
Power System. The letter
requests the U.S. Corps of
Engineers to comply with
state and tribal water quality
standards with specific focus
on water temperature and
dissolved gas in and around
their dams on the Columbia
and Snake River. Corps
dams provide cheap, plenti-
ful hydroelectric power to the
Northwest. EPA, Washing-
ton, and Oregon asked the
Corps for a list of measures
and a schedule by March 15,
1998. And in a December
meeting with Brigadier Gen-
eral Robert Griffin, Pacific
Division Commander, Chuck
Clarke reaffirmed EPA's
commitment to work aggres-
sively with the Corps to
uphold the Clean Water Act.
It is a critical time for EPA to
get involved. The Northwest
is facing an important deci-
sion in 1999 on the future of
salmon recovery. With the
1991 Endangered Species
Act (ESA) listing of Snake
River Chinook, the National
Marine Fisheries Service
developed a "Biological Opin-
ion" on the Columbia/Snake
hydropower system. The
Opinion recommended a
decision in late 1999 on
whether expanded fish barg-
ing or drawdown was a
"reasonable and prudent"
alternative under the ESA.
The background for this
decision is complex and
contentious involving four
states, thirteen tribes, Alaska
fishing controversies, and
Canada, on issues such as
governance, energy deregula-
tion, harvest, hatcheries,
habitat, and hydropower.
The final decision may reflect
a continuation of status quo,
additional technology, and
tweaking of the dams to
support increased fish collec-
tion and barging, or an
unprecedented option revolv-
ing around drawdown of four
federal dams.
What led EPA and the states
to this point? The Columbia
River was once the most
productive salmon river
system in the world. Salmon
runs have fallen from 10-16
million adults in the mid-
and late 1800' s, to about 2.5
million or less today. The
In This Issue—
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ECOJ
EPA News to Update you on agency
activities
WaterWords to share stories from
communities around the Greater
Northwest
Spotlight to showcase success stories
and environmental stars
Ecosystem to provide news that goes
beyond water topics
Tools to clue you in on resources,
publications, opportunities, and
services
-------
vast majority of these return-
ing fish are hatchery reared
fish. The net asset of these
lost fish is estimated at $13
billion in lost economic
benefits ("The Cost of Doing
Nothing," Institute for Fish-
ery Resources, 1996) . His-
torically, Columbia River
salmon provided a tremen-
dous economic and spiritual
basis for Columbia River
tribes. Some of these tribes
lost salmon in perpetuity
through blockages from
dams. Four Columbia River
tribes (Yakama, Nez Perce,
Umatilla and Warm Springs)
negotiated treaties in 1855
with the federal government
retaining rights to fish. The
treaties, though challenged
often, have been reaffirmed
repeatedly as legally binding
documents by numerous
court decisions.
In the Northwest, EPA and
the states of Idaho, Washing-
ton, and Oregon recently lost
three lawsuits about rivers
and streams not meeting
Clean Water Act require-
ments . The principle of
these lawsuits was that EPA
and the states as regulators
were not managing those
rivers and streams to ad-
equately ensure that they
would meet water quality
standards. This may be a
cause of the recent onslaught
of ESA listings; if the stan-
dards of the CWA had been
achieved in the waterbodies,
biodiversity losses in the
Northwest might have been
less drastic. As a result,
EPA, the States, tribal gov-
ernments, other federal
agencies, ratepayers, and
private landowners have
begun investing millions of
dollars in Columbia River
watershed improvements to
meet Clean Water Act re-
quirements .
Until now, EPA has let the
Northwest states and other
federal agencies take the lead
in a salmon recovery effort
that has consumed $3 billion
during the past fifteen years
without an overall increase
in salmon populations. In
1995, the Confederated
Tribes of the Umatilla Indian
Reservation approached
Chuck Clarke and requested
that EPA uphold the federal
trust responsibility to tribes
and enforce the Clean Water
Act, with a special focus on
water temperature.
Water temperature has been
described as the "invisible
killer" for fish. High tempera-
tures make it difficult for
salmon to migrate and
spawn, and fish become
more vulnerable to disease.
High temperatures may also
inhibit growth in salmon and
reduce tolerance to stressful
conditions. Construction
and operation of eight federal
Columbia and Snake River
dams (in addition to many
others) transformed the river
into a series of lakes and
drastically changed
temperature
patterns, creating
serious impedi-
ments for migrating
salmon. Even before the
dams were built, the Colum-
bia and Snake were known to
have high water tempera-
tures in the arid inland
plateau. But the river main-
tained natural habitat which
provided cool, deep water
pools for the salmon to hang
out in the Columbia until the
lower Snake cooled down.
The dams have not only
pushed up temperatures,
changed the shorelines, and
reduced daily temperature
fluctuations, but also forced
young fish to stay longer in
warm water.
EPA is now becoming a more
active participant in regional
salmon recovery forums. In
these forums, EPA has advo-
cated restoration of the
Columbia Basin as an eco-
system, recognizing the
connectivity between the
mainstem and the tributar-
ies. This ecosystem connec-
tivity was endorsed by the
Northwest Power Planning
Council's Independent Scien-
tific Group, "Return to the
River." In November 1997,
EPA sponsored a successful
temperature workshop in
Portland which brought
regional scientists and policy
makers together to discuss
and understand water tem-
perature impacts on fish and
possible solutions for reduc-
ing those impacts. EPA is a
cooperating agency in the
Lower Snake Juvenile
Salmon Migration Feasibility
Study Environmental Impact
Statement which is develop-
ing the plan for how the river
ultimately will be configured.
EPA Region 10, in coopera-
tion with the States, tribes,
and Northwest Power Plan-
ning Council, is also con-
ducting an assessment of the
influence in temperature
pattern changes over the
past 50 years.
For more details, call Mary
Lou Soscia, EPA Columbia
River Coordinator, at
503/326-5873, or email:
soscia.marylou@epamail.epa.gov.
Effluent Trading
Activities Under-
way In Region 10
What is Effluent Trading?
Trading pollution is not a
new concept to EPA—the
Acid Rain Program has dem-
onstrated great success with
this approach through sev-
eral years of trading sulfur
dioxide emissions, achieving
substantial emissions reduc-
tions at considerably less
cost than under traditional
regulatory methods. Effluent
trading is a new application
of this method, designed to
improve water quality at
lower cost to the affected
sources and the local com-
munity. When applied to
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WaterTalk, February 1998
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water pollution, effluent trading means that one discharger pays to help reduce pollution
from another source in the same watershed, instead of having to make more expensive
reductions at its own site. Demonstration projects using this principle have been launched
in several watersheds across the country, but EPA Region 10 is attempting to establish a
model approach that could be readily copied and implemented in watersheds throughout the
region. Properly employed, effluent trading has tremendous potential to reduce the cost of
implementing water pollution reductions required under the Clean Water Act's Total
Maximum Daily Loading calculations.
Effluent Trading Workshop in Boise: A workshop to build understanding of effluent trad-
ing and how it might be applied in Idaho was held by Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality in Boise last November. The workshop was attended by 170 people representing a
range of interests, including industry, municipalities, agriculture, and state government.
Speakers from several states that have developed effluent trading demonstration projects
were featured, as well as speakers from Idaho DEQ and EPA. The projects presented
provided models for Idaho to consider in designing its effluent trading programs and raised
important policy and implementation issues.
Effluent Trading Demonstration Projects: EPA Region 10 and its states are collectively
working to initiate effluent trading in the Pacific Northwest through several demonstration
projects. The Lower Boise River in Idaho and the Puyallup/White River System in Washing-
ton were chosen to be launched in early 1998 and a project in Oregon will be initiated later
in the year, once funding is procured. The demonstration projects will feature strong
stakeholder involvement, to ensure design of an effluent trading program that incorporates
local needs and concerns, as well as achieves important water quality goals. For more
information, contact EPA Region 10's Effluent Trading Coordinator, Claire Schary, at
(206) 553-8514 or by e-mail, schary.claire@epamail.epa.gov.
More Water Success In Our Backyard
In recognition of the 25th
Anniversary of the Clean
Water Act, the last issue of
WaterTalk featured two clean
water success stories, one
each from Alaska and
Oregon. This issue highlights
similar successes in
Washington and Idaho.
Spencer Island
Habitat Restored
In the Summer of 1995, an
entourage of folks from EPA,
other government agencies,
and the local community
climbed aboard boats bound
for a "treasure island" of
sorts. The event was not a
search for buried riches,
however. Rather, the short
jaunt delivered riders to a
special ribbon cutting cer-
emony to celebrate an impor-
tant environmental event: the
grand opening of the Spencer
Island Wetland Restoration
Proj ect and Nature Park.
Spencer Island, which can be
seen by passing travelers on
Interstate 5, sits between
Union and Steamboat
sloughs in the Snohomish
River in Snohomish County,
Washington. The island
environment had recently
benefited from a major effort
to restore lost habitat.
This project, with Clean
Water Act funding and EPA
coordination and monitoring,
represents a strong model for
how federal, state, and local
community representatives
can successfully work to-
gether to achieve a common
vision. Local volunteer
citizen monitors also are
contributing, through a
program funded by EPA as
part of a long term educa-
tional and stewardship
program.
The project restored tidal
influence to a portion of the
400-acre island and en-
hanced the diversity of habi-
tat for waterfowl and other
birds. The island's numer-
ous freshwater wetlands are
home to many species. The
restored 50 acre tidal marsh
and mudflats provide food
and refuge for juvenile
salmon and other fish
Page 3
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species as well as habitat for
shorebirds. The tidal marsh
was restored by cutting
through dikes and letting the
tide rush in. Water levels in
the northern part of the
island are regulated by weirs.
The park now has three
miles of trails and provides
fantastic bird watching and
other educational and recre-
ation opportunities. Osprey,
talons clasping small
salmon, are chased by bald
eagles. Shovelors, widgeon,
and teal dabble in open
water ponds while great blue
herons and shorebirds feed
on mudflats. The island
truly is a treasure now—an
environmental treasure.
Idaho Dairies and
Clean Water
Idaho's dairy indus-
try has experienced
rapid growth in the
past several years,
and runoff from these milk
operations can pose serious
threats to local waterways.
The amount of waste pro-
duced by dairies is astound-
ing by any measure. A single
cow can produce 120 pounds
of waste each day. There
were 223,000 dairy cows in
Idaho in 1995, up from
170,000 five years before.
When manure and other
organic material gets into
water, it can harm fish and
wildlife, degrade water qual-
ity, and threaten human
health. Proper dairy waste
management is essential for
curbing such pollution.
Compliance with discharge
permits issued by EPA under
the Clean Water Act is one
cornerstone of good waste
management for dairies.
With the large number of
facilities, however, it's more
than a challenge for EPA
inspectors to visit dairies
regularly.
An innovative effort is now
underway, making sure that
dairies and water quality can
go hand-in-hand throughout
the state. Thanks to a part-
nership among EPA, Idaho
State Department of Agricul-
ture, Idaho Division of Envi-
ronmental Quality, and the
Idaho Dairymen's Associa-
tion, efficiency in government
and some cleaner local wa-
terways have been realized.
Additionally, industry com-
pliance with their Clean
Water Act discharge permits
has improved and the
dairyindustry enjoys a more
level "economic playing field."
Waste management systems
in every dairy are now in-
spected during routine milk
inspections conducted by the
Department of Agriculture.
In the past two years, the
Department has conducted
over 4000 inspections. This
achievement contrasts with
less than 100 inspections
that EPA would have con-
ducted under the traditional
approach. The inspections
are an opportunity to pin-
point potential problems and
begin making any needed
corrections. Additionally,
inspectors may now revoke a
dairy's license to sell milk
when wastes are illegally
discharged to waterways.
This model approach pre-
sents strong incentives for
proper waste management,
with benefits to the agencies,
the industry, and the envi-
ronment—a notable clean
water success!
Washington WaterWeeks:
Hands On For Healthy Habitats I
Washington WaterWeeks 1998 is celebrating 15 years of
helping Washington residents explore, understand and take
action to protect the state's water resources. Every September,
community and environmental groups, non-profit organiza-
tions, state agencies, businesses, cities, and counties plan
salmon celebrations, stream restorations, wetlands tours,
beach and lake cleanups, and wildlife watching adventures.
EPA Region 10 invites you to plan an event for Washington
WaterWeeks 1998, August 29 - October 4. This year's theme is
Hands On For Healthy Habitats. As a WaterWeeks planner, you
will receive planning assistance and promotional support,
including posters, banners, press releases, and a listing in the
Washington WaterWeeks Activity Guide and on the proposed
Web site. For more information, call the WaterWeeks office at
360/943-3642 or write to P.O. Box 1354, Olympia,
Washington, 98507-1354.
O ^ I
w
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WaterTalk, February 1998
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My Own "Sound
Experience"
The following story was contrib-
uted by Mike Marsh, an enrollee
in EPA' s senior environmental
employee program. He can be
reached at 206/553-2876, or
email: marsh. mike@epamail. epa. gov.
This story is an example of how
getting involved in hands-on
environmental protection activi-
ties can be a rewarding experi-
ence. Opportunities to become
involved in personal stewardship
abound in every community.
With Earth Day rapidly ap-
proaching April 22 EPA
encourages you to find a way to
"Act Locally, Think Globally."
We "took a trip on a sailing ship"
last sumner. Last fall my wife
and I joined the volunteer organi-
zation that helps to maintain the
ship, to sail her, and to bring a
practical conservation program to
Puget Sound. Sound Experi-
ence is a non-profit educational
organization based in Port
Townsend which owns and
operates the Adventuress, a 101
ft, 85 year old, two masted
schooner. Jane and I sailed last
summer as part of an Elderhostel
program, spending five nights
aboard, sailing (sometimes
booming along!) the waters of the
San Juan Islands, putting into
quiet coves overnight, walking
the beach and hunting fossils on
Sucia Island, and learning a lot
about sailing a big ship, about
simple living, and about the
impact of people on Puget Sound.
Adventuress sailed with a crew
of 11, including six volunteers.
The 32 Elderhostelers were
divided into three watches, with
a volunteer crew member respon-
sible for each. It was not a
cruise for lounge-lizards. We
were up by 7 AM. The watches
took turns at galley duty, at
anchor watch, at swabbing the
decks after breakfast, and at
sailing the vessel. I don' t know
how many square feet of sail
Adventuress carries, but it takes
six deck hands on the throat
halyard and 6 on the peak
halyard of the gaff to raise the
mainsail. We Elderhostelers
learned to "haul-away, Joe" in
time to a sea chanty. The best
part was taking the helm when
the wind was humming at 15
knots. While she is lightly built
and nicely balanced on the helm,
Adventuress is long, and has
plenty of momentum. Steering
her is an experience, for it takes
her 20 or so seconds to respond
to the helm! In addition to
pulling on lines and taking the
wheel, we learned to navigate
inland waters with chart, log,
and sighting compass.
Sound Experience projects a
strong practical conservation
message as part of their maritime
program. The ship serves only
vegetarian meals to indicate how
a tasty diet and eating low on
the food chain can co-exist. We
attempted (but failed) to get
through our 6 day cruise without
visiting a port to take on water
and to pump the sewage holding
tank. Drinking and cooking
water was not rationed, but dish
washing was practiced with real
economy of fresh water use.
There are no showers. The ship
has 3 heads, and the stated rule
for their use is "4 squares of
toilet paper is enough!" We used
the ship's diesel engine only
when in close quarters, for
example, when we anchored for
the night. Every day, usually
after supper, we gathered to
discuss a conservation topic and
sing a few songs.
Sound Experience operates day,
overnight and week-long cruises
for a variety of groups including
Scouts, schools, special adult
groups, and the general public.
Their Internet address is . By teaching, and then demon-
strating how to enjoy life, adven-
ture, and the company of others
with minimal impact on the
environment, this group provides
a valuable service. We were so
pleased with our experience that
we have signed up as volunteers
with the organization.
Water Awareness Week Celebrates Idaho Treasure
Celebrating Idaho's greatest treasure is the aim of Water Awareness Week, set to take place
May 4-8 throughout the state. Years of drought, combined with ever-increasing demands on
this finite resource, spurred organizers to intensify education efforts and create this inclu-
sive, neutral umbrella event that pulls together diverse private and public organizations.
While a variety of organizations will conduct water awareness activities around the state, at
the heart of the event is a water resource educational and environmental awareness curricu-
lum program for Idaho sixth graders.
Now in its fifth year, Water Awareness Week brings water education materials directly into
the classroom, and in some cases takes kids out of the classroom for field learning activities.
With funding support from many sources, including EPA, the program reaches thousands of
students, with the goal of building their understanding of the importance of water—the
state's "treasure"—and laying the foundation for dealing with critical water issues they will
face as adults. For more information or to get involved, call Dick Larsen, Idaho Department
of Water Resources, at 208/327-7933. Or, visit the web site: http://www.idwr.state.id.us/
idwr/info/h2oweek/main.htm
Page 5
WaterTalk, February 1998
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Columbia Slough
Gets A Boost
The Columbia Slough played
an important role in Port-
land, Oregon' s growth and
history. Today it is paying
the price of progress. The
18-mile slough in north
Portland flows through some
of the city's poorest neigh-
borhoods, and it may be
Oregon's most polluted body
of water. For years, indus-
tries dotting its banks
poured waste into the slow-
moving water. Pollutants
fouled the slough and
contaminated aquatic life.
Today, the once forgotten,
much abused Columbia
Slough shows signs of new
vitality, and the award of a
$10 million EPA grant in
1995 jump started its resto-
ration. As Portland enters its
final year of support from the
grant, the City is assessing
the many projects the money
helped fund. Restoration of
the Columbia Slough will
take many years, but the
EPA grant funded numerous
projects aimed at getting the
process started.
-The Columbia Slough Sedi-
ments Project pinpointed
contamination hot spots, and
is now assessing potential
public health risks and
recommending cleanup
options.
-The City started construc-
tion of the Columbia Slough
consolidation conduit to
intercept combined sewer
overflows to the slough.
-The Ramsey Lake Con-
structed Wetland, completed
in 1996, treats north Port-
land stormwater before it
flows into the slough.
-Community and corporate
volunteers removed acres of
non-native vegetation from
the Columbia Slough' s banks
and reintroduced native
plants to shade the water,
stabilize slough banks, filter
stormwater runoff, and
enhance habitat.
-Environmental educators
raise public awareness of the
pollution challenges facing
the Columbia Slough.
The Columbia Slough
represents a microcosm of
the many water quality
challenges facing American
waterways: legacy pollutants,
widely varied land uses,
sediment contamination,
environmental justice,
contaminated fish. Despite
those challenges, says Dean
IVferriott, Director of the
City's Bureau of Environ-
mental Services, "The
slough's recreational oppor-
tunities, wildlife habitat and
history remain enormously
important to Portland. The
partnership with EPA helped
move the City forward in its
effort to reclaim the Slough
for future generations." For
more information about the
Columbia Slough, contact
Amy Chomowicz, City of
Portland, at 503/823-5323.
ECO
Alaska Composting
Goes To The Dogs
Thanks to a $17,000 grant
from EPA, dog waste has now
gotten in on the compost act,
at least in Alaska. In the
Fairbanks North Star Bor-
ough, a 7,000 square mile
region with an estimated
20,000 dogs, dog waste can
present some real challenges.
This is a land of dog
mushers, and many dog lots
are on or near wetlands.
Their waste can harm these
important aquatic ecosys-
tems and water sources.
Also, with limited disposal
options (the landfill is not
designed to handle animal
waste) , dog mushers can face
"mountains" of manure.
Page 6
A recent study conducted by
the Fairbanks Soil and Water
Conservation District and the
Natural Resources Conserva-
tion Service was aimed at
maintaining local water
quality and finding a way to
deal with the "mountains."
The study demonstrated that
composting of dog waste is a
viable option. With proper
care and a mix of two parts
waste and one part carbon
(hay, straw, sawdust, leaves),
mushers can establish
composting systems that
maintain the temperatures
necessary to destroy fecal
parasites and pathogens.
The project team
recommends that dog waste
compost not be used on food
crops; instead, it should be
reserved for annual and
perennial beds. Also, they
say, don't mix it with regular
compost. The final product
reportedly smells like potting
soil. Please, get more infor-
mation before you try this at
home. For details, call the
Natural Resources Conserva-
tion Service Fairbanks
Alaska Field Office at 907/
479-2657 or Amy Ash,
Alaska Department of Envi-
ronmental Conservation,
Fairbanks at 907/451-2136.
Citizens Watch
Over AK Forests
The Alaska Community
Forest Watch (CFW), a citizen
effort funded with an EPA
Community Based Environ-
mental Protect ion grant, is
doing what its name sug-
gests : watching over Alaska's
forests. Their efforts to
monitor Alaska forestry
activities to determine com-
pliance with the Alaska
Forest Practices Act—a key
state tool for preventing
nonpoint source pollution
and protecting salmon
habitat—recently resulted in
some real environmental
protection.
WaterTalk, February 1998
-------
The Alaska Forum for Envi-
ronmental Responsibility
trained citizen volunteers in
selected Best Management
Practices that the Act re-
quires. The group focused
its monitoring efforts on
state land in the Moose Pass
area of the Kenai Peninsula.
The area contains critical
brown bear habitat and is
the headwaters of the re-
nowned Kenai River fishery.
The project benefited from
cooperation and assistance
from staff in the Alaska
Department of Natural
Resources.
Biologist Lorvel Shields, CFW
project director, led crews of
trained citizen volunteers in
monitoring two sites near
Moose Pass. Under his
leadership, the project identi-
fied what appear to be seri-
ous violations of the Act on
one of the two sites. Some of
the violations had the poten-
tial to introduce sediment
into a salmon spawning
stream down slope from the
logged area. At the other
site, the Act and regulations
were generally followed, with
one or two exceptions that
had the potential to impact
water quality.
The Alaska Forum believes
that their efforts demonstrate
the value of an independent
analysis of compliance with
the Forest Practices Act.
Proj ect results have been
brought to the attention of
the Alaska Board of Forestry.
The Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation
has announced that it will
support a second phase of
CFW using funds provided
under a Performance Part-
nership Grant from EPA.
This phase may focus on the
Kenai Peninsula or another
area within Southcentral
Alaska.
For more information about
this project, call lee
Daneker, EPA, at
206/553-1380 or 1-800-424-
4EPAxl380, or E-mail:
daneker.leeOepamail.epa.gov
OR contact the Alaska
Forum directly at
907/835-5460, E-mail:
afermjrObendnet.com.
Environmental Justice Grant Applications Due
EPA' s Environmental Jus-
tice Small Grants Program
is now accepting applications
postmarked no later than
March 6, 1998. The purpose
of this grants program is to
provide financial assistance
to eligible community groups
such as community-based/
grassroots organizations,
churches, or other non-profit
organizations and federally
recognized tribal govern-
ments that are working on or
plan to carry out projects to
address environmental jus-
tice issues. While state and
local governments and aca-
demic institutions are eligible
to receive grants, preference
will be given to community-
based/grassroots organiza-
tions that are non-profit and
incorporated, and tribal
governments.
Funds can be used to
develop a new activity or
substantially improve the
quality of existing programs.
EPA Region 10 (covering
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and
Washington) expects to
award a total of about
$250,000. The maximum
award for any one grant is
$20, 000. A copy of the
Application Guidance can be
obtained by contacting Su-
san Morales, Environmental
Justice Grants Coordinator
at 206/553-8580 or writing
to: US EPA (01-085), 1200
Sixth Avenue, Seattle, WA
98101; email:
morales.susan@epamail.epa.gov.
Proposed Rules for Industrial Laundries: On December 17, 1997, EPA proposed pretreat-
ment standards for Industrial Laundries that discharge wastewater to municipal sewer systems.
Limits for a number of organic chemicals, as well as copper, lead, zinc, and "oil and grease" have
been put forward for industrial laundries that launder at least one million pounds of laundry and
at least 255,000 pounds of shop and/or printers' towels/rags per year. The comment period is
scheduled to close February 17, 1998. For more information, call Sharon Wilson, EPA, at
206/553-0325 or 1-800-424-4EPA x0325, or email: wilson.sharon@epamail.epa.gov.
Page 7
WaterTalk, February 1998
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WA Water Access
Grants Offered
Washington State Depart-
ment of Natural Resources
(DNR) announces the start of
the 199 8 grant cycle for
aquatic lands enhancement
account, or ALEA, grants.
DNR distributes these grants
through a competitive pro-
cess to local cities and coun-
ties, ports, tribes, and state
agencies. The purpose of the
grant program is to assist in
the acquisition and develop-
ment of sites that enhance
public access to the state's
marine and freshwater
shorelines. The ALEA grant
program provides funding on
a two-year cycle. Applica-
tions are due May 1, 1998.
With approval by the legisla-
ture, funds will be available
July 1, 1999, through June
30, 2001. For an application
package, contact Mike
Ramsey, ALEA Project Man-
ager, 360/902-1259 (email:
mike.ramsey@wadnr.gov); or
Carol Lee Gallagher, ALEA
Project Manager,
360/902-1090 (email:
carollee.gallagher@wadnr.gov).
Video Spotlights
Youth, Environ-
ment Program
EPA invites you to check out
a new release. While it' s not
on the "top box" shelf, it is
worth seeing, especially if
you care about youth and
environmental restoration.
This scenic video, called
Youth Restoration Corps,
focuses on a model program
which benefits both young
people and nature. The
program combines paid work
with in-the-field education
for highschoolers. The video
documents how ten youth
are undertaking efforts to
repair and eliminate further
damage to the banks of the
Russian River, a tributary to
the Kenai River in Alaska.
The Kenai River is a world
famous salmon stream that
is threatened by nonpoint
source pollution. Details
about the restoration effort,
including the erosion matting
and revegetation work, are
highlighted. EPA's 319
Nonpoint Source Program is
one of many sponsors of the
program. State Senator
John Torgeson, who sup-
ports the program "with his
chainsaw and positive men-
tal attitude," says the
program represents a "good
combination of government,
private enterprise, and the
youth of our community." To
check out the video on
short-term loan, call EPA at
206/553-1200 or
1-800-424-4EPA.
"EPA in Alaska"
Brochure
A brochure describing EPA' s
role in Alaska will soon be
available from EPA's regional
Public Environmental Re-
source Center. The two-page
document briefly outlines
activities EPA undertakes to
protect and promote the
quality of Alaska's air, water,
and land. It also describes
the mission of EPA Region 10
and provides contact persons
and phone numbers for
different program areas. For
a free copy visit EPA's An-
chorage or Juneau Offices, or
call l-800-424-4EPAor
206/553-1200 and ask for
the EPA In Alaska brochure.
Volunteer
Stream Manual
Now Ready
Volunteer monitors will
welcome the news that the
long-awaited Volunteer
Stream Monitoring: A
Methods Manual is now
available from EPA. The
210-page manual gives the
reader an introduction to
streams and watershed
survey methods, and offers
detailed, step-by-step ap-
proaches to monitoring
macroinvertebrates, habitat,
water quality, and physical
conditions. It also presents a
chapter on managing and
presenting data. For a free
copy, call EPA's
PublicEnvironmental
Resource Center at
1-800-424-4EPA or
206/553-1200. Or, visit the
EPA volunteer monitoring
homepage at www.epa.gov/
owow/monitoring/vol.html.
National Index
Assesses Water-
shed Health
The Index of Watershed
Indicators presents EPA's
first national snapshot of
watershed health. Available
on line or hard copy, the
index provides aquatic re-
source information, orga-
nized on a watershed basis,
and characterizes watershed
condition and vulnerability.
Fifteen indicators of health
are combined to determine
an overall score for every
watershed in the nation.
Anyone wanting a sense of
the health of a particular
watershed will find the index
useful. In can be found at:
www.epa.gov/surf/iwi/. Or,
call EPA's Public Environ-
mental Resource Center at
206/553-1200 or
1-800-424-4EPA for a free
copy (quantities are limited) .
Page
WaterTalk, February 1998
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Guide for
Monitoring
Grazing Impacts
Here' s a document of
interest to natural
resource profession-
als involved in
assessing grazing impacts on
water quality in stream of the
Western Unites States.
Called Monitoring Protocols
to Evaluate Water Quality
Effects of Grazing Manage-
ment on Western Range-
land Streams (Oct 93), this
200+page document
describes protocols devel-
oped to assess water quality
improvements resulting from
stream restoration projects
funded under the Clean
Water Act and Coastal Zone
Management Act.
The guidebook presents
methods that reduce sam-
pling frequency, minimize
needs for specialized equip-
ment, and reduce costly
laboratory analyses. It
focuses on attributes of the
stream channel, stream
bank, and streamside vegeta-
tion which are impacted by
grazing and important to
aquatic life. For a free copy,
call EPA's Public Environ-
mental Resource Center, at
1-800-424-4EPA or
206/553-1200.
Hanford Report
On Line
Contaminant effects from
Hanford to the Columbia
River are the subject of a
comprehensive assessment
now available on line. This
proj ect includes a human
and ecological risk assess-
ment of 28 Hanford contami-
nants, on 52 species and
humans under twelve expo-
sure scenarios (including five
Native American tribal sce-
narios written by tribal
members on the project) .
This risk assessment evalu-
ates current conditions and
provides a downstream
perspective on the metals
coming from the upper wa-
tershed. The document is
on-line at http://
www.hanford.gov/crcia/
reports/doe-rl_96-16/
crcia04_97.htm. For more
information, call Larry
Gadbois, EPA, at
509/376-9884, or email:
gadbois.larry@epamail.epa.gov.
Willamette
Sediments
Investigated
EPA's Superfund Site As-
sessment program, in coop-
eration with Oregon Depart-
ment of Environmental
Quality (ODEQ), is conduct-
ing a sediment sampling
investigation of a f ive-
milestretch of the heavily-
industrialized lower
Willamette River in Portland.
This investigation is occur-
ring because previous local-
ized sediment sampling
efforts have shown some
areas of significant contami-
nation, and ODEQ consid-
ered it a high priority to
conduct a more systematic
evaluation of this entire
stretch of the river. This
latest sediment sampling in
the lower Willamette took
place in September and
October 1997.
EPA expects to have a sum-
mary of the analytical data
sometime in February, and a
complete Site Inspection
report by this summer. For
more information, call John
Meyer, EPA, 206/553-1271,
or 1-800-424-4EPA X1271,
or email:
meyer.j ohnr@epamail.epa.gov.
Website Focuses
On Wetlands
Restoration
EPA recently unveiled a new
website for public and pri-
vate, large and small organi-
zations interested in river
and wetlands restoration.
Users can visit river corridors
and wetlands restoration
sites, sorted by watershed,
and receive and contribute
information concerning their
own projects, programs, or
organizations.
EPA's goals in establishing
this resource are to provide a
depository of information to
help federal and state agen-
cies understand local needs
and to give local groups
access to what federal and
state agencies have to offer.
Also, restoration practitio-
ners at the local level can use
the site to communicate with
their peers, share their expe-
riences, and "Put Your
Proj ect on the Map" to get
some national exposure. The
site also includes informa-
tion about proposals for
future restorations to help
foster partnerships. The
restoration website is at:
http://www.epa.gov/owow/
wetlands/restore. For more
information concerning this
site, contact John Pai, U.S.
EPA (4501), 401 M Street,
SW, Washington, DC 20460.
Phone 202/260-8076;
email :pai. j ohn@eparrail. epa. gov.
Page 9
WaterTalk, February 1998
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February
9-10: Green Crab: Potential Impacts
in Pacific Northwest, Vancouver, WA.
Washington Sea Grant Program, Terry
Nosho, 206/543-2821.
11: Future of Our Public Lands:
Symposium on Federal Land Policy,
Boise, Idaho. Andrus Center for
Public Policy, 208/385-4218.
March
12-13: Puget Sound Research '98,
Seattle, WA. Puget Sound Water
Quality Action Team, 360/407-7321.
31-April 1: Partnerships in Nonpoint
Source Pollution Control Workshop,
Wenatchee, WA. Bill Hashim, Wash-
ington Department of Ecology,
360/407-6551.
April
American Wetlands Month
3-May29: (Fridays) King County
Land/Water Stewardship Volunteer
Training, Seattle, WA. Marilyn Free-
man, 206/296-3986.
21-24: Alaska Water Wastewater
Management Conference, Anchorage,
AK.
22: Earth Day
27-30: Toward Ecosystem-Based
Management in the Upper Columbia
River Basin, Conference, Castegar,
British Columbia, Canada. Don
MacDonald, 205/753-1583 or email:
ssf-mesl@island.net.
29-May 3: Rivers: The Future Frontier, River
Management Society' s Symposium on River
Management and Planning, Anchorage, AK.
River Management Society, 406/549-0514,
email: rms@igc.apc.org.
May
3-6: Watershed Management: Moving From
Theory to Implementation, Denver, CO. Wa-
ter Environment Federation, 703/684-2400.
4-8: Idaho Water Awareness Week. Dick
Larsen, Idaho Department of Water
Resources,208/327-7933.
4-10: Drinking Water Week
9: Penn Cove Water Festival, Whidbey Island,
WA. WSU Beach Watchers, 360/679-7391, or
bertas@wsu.edu
21-22: Pacific Northwest Chapter of Society
of Wetland Scientists, Annual Meeting,
Tacoma, WA. Fred Weinmann, EPA,
206/553-1414 or 1-800-424-4EPA x!414 .
June
8-12 : Alaska' s Wetlands, From Tundra To
Sea: Annual National Meeting of Society of
Wetland Scientists. Terry Brock,
tbrock@ptialaska.net, 907/780-5869,
907/586-7863, http://www.sws.org.
July
12-15: Residuals and Biosolids Management
Specialty Conference, Bellevue, WA. Water
Environment Federation, 703/684-2442.
Page 10
WaterTalk, February 1998
-------
Small
Communities
Product Guide
Announced
The National Small Flows
Clearinghouse—a nonprofit,
EPA-funded environmental
health program for small
communities announces
release of its new product
catalog, the 1997 Products
Guide. The catalog lists
hundreds of free or low-cost
educational products about
small community wastewater
treatment. Included are
design manuals, posters,
videos, software, newsletters,
and other material. To order
the guide, call 1-800-624-
8301 and request item
#WWCAT. Or, access the
catalog on line at
http://www.nsfc.wvu.edu,
on the site's "Products" page.
Top 10
Watershed
Lessons Shared
Folks interested in success-
fully involving their whole
watershed in monitoring and
protection activities may
wish to get a copy of a new
publication from EPA. Called
Top 10 Watershed Lessons
Learned, the 59-page docu-
ment shares ten fundamental
lessons from dozens of wa-
tershed practitioners. Each
lesson includes a list of
related resources. For a free
copy, call 1-800-490-9198
and request publication
#EPA 840-F-97-001. Or see
it on line at: www.epa.gov/
owow/lessons.
"Our Northwest
Envi ronment"
Highlights EPA
Activities
Folks curious about what
EPA's been up to lately might
be interested in a new
resource. Called Our North-
west Environment 1997,
this colorful 2 5-page booklet
provides information about
EPA program activities, and
points out that all of us have
a role to play in preserving
the quality of life we enjoy.
For a free copy, call EPA's
Public Environmental
Resource Center at
206/553-1200 or
1-800-424-4EPA.
Mailing List Update
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WaterTalk is published quarterly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10. WaterTalk seeks to
be a useful tool for those who protect water resources and ecosystems in communities of the Greater Pacific
Northwest, by providing practical resources and relevant agency news.
Mention of trade names, products, or services does not convey, and should not be interpreted as conveying,
official EPA approval, endorsement, or recommendation.
You are invited to contribute items for publication. Submittal deadline is the 15th day of the month preceding
publication.
WaterTalk articles are available for use in other publications. Please give credit to WaterTalk.
For mailing list changes, call Tomi Rutherford at 206/553-0603.
To contact theEditor, call Andrea Lindsay at 206/553-1896 ,
1-800-424-4EPA x!896, or email:lindsay.andrea@epamail.epa.gov.
Accessibility Information: This publication is available in alternate formats (eg, large print, Braille). To request
an alternate format, contact EPA at 206/553-1200 or 1-800-424-4EPA. People with hearing or speech
impairments can call EPA's telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD) at 206/553-1698.
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